Ministry of Health and Welfare Signs 710 Billion Won Investment MOU with Roche

Attracting Global Clinical Trials in Advanced Biopharmaceuticals
and Fostering R&D Professionals

The Ministry of Health and Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Roche, a global bio company headquartered in Switzerland, at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on March 3, 2026, to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea's biohealth industry.

This MOU was established to facilitate mutual cooperation by sharing Korea's promising pipelines and clinical trial competitiveness with Roche's global research and development (R&D) network and market entry experience within the domestic pharmaceutical and bio R&D ecosystem. The agreement also aims to attract clinical trials to Korea and promote collaboration in areas such as open innovation. Through these efforts, Korea is expected to further solidify its position as a strategic global clinical trial hub in Asia.

Over the next five years, Roche plans to invest a total of 710 billion won to: ▲ attract global clinical trials in the fields of high-prevalence, intractable diseases and advanced biopharmaceuticals to Korea; ▲ foster specialized R&D personnel; and ▲ identify and support the rapid growth of promising domestic biohealth companies through open innovation.

Both parties also agreed to use this partnership to strengthen the industrial ecosystem for attracting global clinical trials, expand the global R&D network, and actively support the global market entry of domestic biohealth companies.

Eun Kyoung Jung, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "We expect that signing this MOU will not only take Korea's clinical trial competitiveness to the next level but also serve as a catalyst for the rapid growth and global expansion of promising domestic biohealth companies," adding, "We will continue to create opportunities for collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies."

Jörg Ruff, Head of Roche Pharma International Region, said, "I believe this collaboration with the Korean government will serve as a catalyst to maximize synergies between both parties and fundamentally strengthen the core competitiveness of Korea's biohealth industry. Based on this partnership, Roche will continue its efforts to ensure a healthier future for humanity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.